This month there are 30 “street pianos” strewn around London as part of the Play Me I’m Yours and Sing London festival. All over town people are sitting down and playing a tune. People have been jumping from their bus just to take a look. Others are dancing, or watching, and talking to strangers about this wondrous spontaneous event.

The pianos have either been donated or bought on eBay for about £100. Each one has been painted by artists to suit the location and there is a song book provided. The songs in the books are site specific: train songs at a train station and water-related on a bridge. A piano tuner makes the rounds by bike to keep them in shape. Once the project is over, they will be given to schools and community groups.